Copa Staircase goes viral on social networks and changes the routine of residents in the center of Rio The green, yellow and blue staircase on Rua Eduardo Jansen, close to Praça Mauá, in the center of Rio, has been part of the region's landscape for almost three decades. Known by residents, tourists and those who visit historic routes in the Port Zone, it recently gained a new dimension after going viral on social media. The charm of painting on the stairs of the small village has been sought after in recent weeks by artists such as Xande de Pilares and Ludmilla, as well as countless influencers. The sudden increase in visibility transformed the residential village where the staircase is located into a destination for visitors from different neighborhoods and cities. According to residents, on weekends some people wait around two hours to get a photo at the location. The repercussion brought pride to those who have maintained the tradition since 1998, but it also changed the routine of those who live there. To deal with the new flow of visitors, residents began to create coexistence guidelines and ways to organize the space without interrupting visits. Eduardo Jansen Street Staircase became an attraction after going viral on social media Jessica Evelin Araújo /g1 While residents say they enjoy seeing the staircase being recognized and admired, they say the sudden popularity has brought challenges to a street that remains primarily residential. According to the community, before it went viral, it was common for residents to spend part of the day sitting on their doorsteps, talking in the windows or watching children play in the street. Intense movement of visitors on Rua Eduardo Jansen during the weekend Reproduction With the increase in the flow of visitors, this dynamic has changed. "It's not bad for people to know the street and admire the place. The problem is when there is a lack of consideration for those who live here. Elderly people, children and entire families live here", reported a resident. Residents say they have been looking for ways to balance the presence of tourists with preserving the community's routine. Guide provides guidance for visitors Guide guides visitors and tells the story of the staircase Jessica Evelin Araújo /g1 At the entrance to the village, a guide gathers information about the history of the staircase and recommendations for those visiting the site. The guidelines include requests to speak quietly, not throw rubbish on the ground, not film residents without authorization and not change clothes inside the village. According to residents, the recommendations came after situations recorded since the staircase gained prominence. One of the guidelines that draws the most attention is precisely the one that asks visitors not to change their clothes on site. According to the community, some tourists started using the street to change clothes before photo shoots, which caused discomfort among residents. There were also reports of people taking photographs inside homes without authorization. Artisan Leda Teodoro, who has lived on Rua Eduardo Jansen for years and sells crochet pieces from her window, says she has been through this type of situation. According to her, a tourist even took photographs inside her residence without authorization. Crochet pieces produced by Leda Teodoro are displayed in the window of her house Jessica Evelin Araújo /g1 "The woman was in here, she even came into my kitchen. It wasn't even about the crochet. The woman was in here, taking photos. So I said that we have to find a way for this place not to be so crowded... Because if not, I have to keep my house completely closed", he said. According to residents, the objective of the guidelines is not to restrict visitation, but to ensure that coexistence between tourists and residents happens in the best possible way. Tradition started in 1998 Márcia Regina during the painting of the staircase on Rua Eduardo Jansen, a tradition that she has helped keep alive for 28 years Disclosure The history of the staircase began during the 1998 World Cup, when artist and resident Márcia Regina created the first painting inspired by the colors of the Brazilian flag. The decoration caught the attention of the village's residents and ended up becoming a tradition on Rua Eduardo Jansen. Since then, Márcia has been responsible for the designs that give the staircase its identity. For 28 years, she has led the renovation of the decoration at each World Cup, making changes to the designs and creating new elements for the staircase. The paints used are paid for by the residents themselves and the staircase is usually repainted every four years. According to the community, this is the first time, in almost three decades of tradition, that the place has registered such an intense movement of visitors. Before it went viral, the street already received tourists, but in a more organized flow. According to residents, it was common for groups to be present accompanied by tour guides who included the staircase in the Little Africa itineraries and other historical points in the Port Zone. Cleaning and maintenance are the responsibility of residents In addition to decoration, street conservation is also carried out by the community itself. According to residents, the village is cleaned by residents, who also take care of the maintenance of the paintings and common spaces. They state that Comlurb teams do not usually carry out cleaning services inside the village. Even with the increase in the number of visitors, residents remain responsible for preserving the space they helped build over the last few decades. Tourists arrive from different cities Maysa and Ângela Marques came from São Paulo and included the staircase in their trip to Rio itinerary Jessica Evelin Araújo /g1 Mother and daughter, Maysa Marques and Ângela Marques, residents of Diadema, in ABC Paulista, included the place in the itinerary of a trip to Rio after discovering the staircase on social media. The two have been in the city for a week and said that visiting Rua Eduardo Jansen was already part of the trip planning. "When we were planning the trip, we had already seen photos on the internet and on Instagram. Then we also saw the profile of the staircase itself and started including the place in our itinerary. I thought it was really cool to see the residents' participation in all of this", said Maysa. The movement has also generated positive consequences for some residents of the village. In addition to following the change in street routine, Leda started to receive more visitors interested in the crochet pieces she displays in her window. Produced by hand by her, the works include clothes, accessories, handmade pieces, with prices that vary according to each product. With the increase in the flow of tourists, more people started to stop to observe the works on display and talk about the production process of the pieces. Recently, the showcase gained an illustrious client. During the recording of the music video for the song “Vento”, released this week, singer Xande de Pilares was on the stairs and, according to Leda, bought all the crochet pieces that were available for sale. Singer Ludmilla also visited the staircase and took photos. Márcia Regina, responsible for painting the staircase, alongside singer Xande de Pilares during the recording of a music video at the location Reproduction: Social media/ @escadabandeiradobrasiloficial Residents deny charging for photos As the staircase's popularity increased, false information about the location also began to circulate. One of them is that there would be a charge to take photos in the village. The information was denied by residents on a page created to publicize the history of the staircase and clarify visitors' doubts. According to the community, there was never any type of charge for taking photos in the space. The expectation is to return to routine after the World Cup While managing the staircase's sudden fame, residents are also preparing for the Brazilian team's games. The expectation is to bring neighbors together to watch the matches outside their homes, maintaining a community tradition that has existed for decades on the street. "We want to have a barbecue and watch the game outside. We are planning for that", said a resident. Despite the intense movement recorded in recent weeks, the community's expectation is that, after the end of the World Cup, Rua Eduardo Jansen will return to its previous rhythm. Ludmilla on the stairs in Rio's Port Zone that went viral Reproduction/Instagram